1---
2layout: docs
3page_title: operator step-down - Command
4description: |-
5  The "operator step-down" forces the Vault server at the given address to step
6  down from active duty.
7---
8
9# operator step-down
10
11The `operator step-down` forces the Vault server at the given address to step
12down from active duty. While the affected node will have a delay before
13attempting to acquire the leader lock again, if no other Vault nodes acquire the
14lock beforehand, it is possible for the same node to re-acquire the lock and
15become active again.
16
17## Examples
18
19Force a Vault server to step down as the leader:
20
21```shell-session
22$ vault operator step-down
23Success! Stepped down: http://127.0.0.1:8200
24```
25
26## Usage
27
28There are no flags beyond the [standard set of flags](/docs/commands)
29included on all commands.
30